Based on English 7, English 8 is designed to improve students’ English language skills for academic purposes and provide them with more knowledge in relevant areas. The materials include topics such as international and intercultural issues as well as current topics of science and technology. Expectations require students to practice: reading academic articles, listening to English lectures, speaking before an audience, and developing skills to write paragraphs and short essays.
By the end of this course, students will:
・be able to express their ideas and opinions in classes confidently
・be able to write paragraphs or short essays
・be able to better understand academic lectures
・practice effective reading strategies
Four language skills, fostering international awareness, communication, studying abroad, TOEFL
Specialist skills | ✔ Intercultural skills | ✔ Communication skills | Critical thinking skills | Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
Reading:
1. Students are required to read the copy of an article or an essay given in advance before coming to class.
2. The instructor (1) clarifies the essential points of the text, and (2) teaches useful expressions.
Writing:
1. Students are required to do the specified exercises or tasks before coming to class.
2. The instructor (1) checks the answers, (2) clarifies the essential points, and (3) teaches useful expressions.
The instructor has the students do additional exercises or tasks when necessary.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Review of English 7 | To review the final exam of English 7 |
Class 2 | Reading news articles and essays Unit 4 “This May Work!” (1) | To read a news article or an essay To learn how to write a problem-solution paragraph (Unit 4) |
Class 3 | Reading news articles and essays Unit 4 “This May Work!” (2) Unit 5 “How Could It Happen?” (1) | To read a news article or an essay To learn how to write a problem-solution paragraph (Unit 4) Learning how to write a cause-and-effect paragraph (Unit 5) |
Class 4 | Reading news articles and essays Unit 5 “How Could It Happen?” (2) | To read a news article or an essay To learn how to write a cause-and-effect paragraph (Unit 5) |
Class 5 | Unit 6 “What Is an Essay?” (1) | To learn how to produce an effective essay (Unit 6) |
Class 6 | Unit 6 “What Is an Essay?” (2) | To learn how to produce an effective essay (Unit 6) |
Class 7 | Final exam Review | To measure the students' achievement; To review the main points |
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Kate Elwood & Leonid Yoffe. Get Your Message Across Ⅱ: From Paragraph to Essay. Tokyo: Nan'un-Do, 2013.
Handouts are given in class when necessary.
Students are assessed on the degree to which they can put what they have learned in class to practical use.
Activities in class & Homework assignments: 50%
Final exam: 50%
None
It is possible that the planned activities may be altered, depending on the students' achievement, etc.